Red Light Therapy benefits: are they indeed so great?

You probably have seen some ads like these: “Red light therapy for hair loss” or “Red light therapy for hair cellulite”. Although these taglines sound a bit gimmicky, there is, actually a pretty solid scientific evidence supporting numerous red light benefits.

One thing needs to be clarified right away – “Red light therapy” often is used as a broad term for describing the whole spectrum of different therapies such as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), biostimulation (BIOS), photonic stimulation or lightbox therapy, Near Infrared Radiation Therapy (NIR), and Far Infrared Radiation Therapy (FIR).

In reality, the health benefits from some of them are quite different because near infrared, far infrared, and visible red waves have very different light spectrum wavelength. To simplify this, let’s say that the visible red light has the shortest ~ 635 nm – 700 nm wavelength, near infrared and mid-infrared – between 700 nm and 3000 nm, and far infrared has the longest wavelength between 3000 nm and 0.1 mm.

So what does this mean in terms of health benefits? The longer the wavelength, the deeper red light penetrates to deliver energy to the cells, promoting healing and relieving pain. Various tissue types and, of course, cells each possess their own unique light absorption methods at different wavelengths.

The most common, safe, and affordable Near Infrared Radiation Therapy (NIR) is done with LED technology that offers the lowest surface temperature. LED devices generate incoherent light waves that disperse over a wider surface area than a RED light halogen or laser. Such waves only have enough power to penetrate the skin making LED devices perfect to be used for red light therapy for cellulite.

Red Lasers emit polarized light, more powerful than LED. If can go deeper into the tissue but with some risk of accidental eye injury. Red light therapy for hair loss often employs devices such as helmets with built-in multiple red lasers sometimes mixed with red LEDs.

Devices that work within invisible red light spectrum produce waves that go up to 2 inches deep and offer a wider range of well-studied and documented health benefits comparing to LED therapy.

Benefits of Near Infrared Therapy

Near Infrared spectrum of Infrared light is barely visible to the naked eye and is also the shortest infrared wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum. Near Infrared light falls in the spectrum of 700 nm to 1400 nm providing the following benefits:

When you go out to sunbathe, the heat that you feel is called infrared light. You might only feel the heat just on your skin, but it penetrates all the way to your tissues, bones, muscles, and nerves as well. Technically, there is a standard wavelength of light that is used in infrared light therapies.

Doctors, physical therapists, and professional athletes mostly use infrared light therapy to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Various infrared light devices in the market can be used at home.

Explanation of the most important infrared light therapy benefits

Over the years, infrared light therapy has been studied and used for various health benefits. The following are the common uses:

Inflammation reduction

High permeability increases inflammation; infrared light therapy reduces inflammation by reducing the permeability. Arthritic joints can be treated using infrared light therapy since they are close to the skin. This form of treatment is natural and with no known side effects thus making it more reliable than the anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pain Relieving

Once the infrared waves have penetrated into your body, the temperature of your body will naturally start rising. This will cause your blood circulation to speed up rapidly. Thus, the pain-relieving components in the blood will reach the affected areas fast and create a quicker relieve. This therapy relieves even severe pain such as that caused by arthritis.

Helps to heal wounds fast

Chronic wounds are life-threatening since they are prone to infections. No one would ever wish for an amputation, but sadly that is what is done when an injury gets infected. You do not have to let your wound get to this traumatizing point. Infrared light therapy can speed-up the healing process of a wound by up to 200%.

You might be wondering how this works. During this treatment, the wound is supplied with more oxygen and nutrients that facilitate fast and natural healing of the injury.

Infrared light therapy increases the blood circulation in the body which promotes the getting rid of dead and damaged cells. During this cleanup, bacteria are eradicated too and thus the wound gets to heal faster.

This treatment increases activities of the lymph system which, in return, promotes detoxification of the affected area. Detoxification gets rid of all the impurities in the wound and promoting speedy recovery process.

The infrared light penetrates into the skin to the cellular mitochondria where it is absorbed and increases the production of ATP energy production in return. This promotes the body cells activities which hasten the healing of the wound.

Infrared light therapy benefits for a clear and bright skin

Light technology is popular among women as a powerful aid to get rid of acne and wrinkles. Infrared light emits heat with different wavelengths. These different wavelengths have various skincare advantages. The following list shows numerous skincare benefits delivered by each light spectrum:

Amber light- stimulation of collagen and elastin

Red light- increases blood circulation in the skin

White light- reduces inflammation and makes the skin tighter. It penetrates deeper than any other color.

Blue light- gets rid of the bacteria

Can infrared light therapy be used on pets?

Yes, Infrared light therapy is safe for pets. This non-medication form of treatment has been used by veterinaries to treat pets since the 1980s. Just like in humans, the infrared light penetrates the skin layer of animals. Infrared light therapy can, therefore, relieve them from pain and inflammation. It is also used for treating wounds and speed up recovery.

However, you will need to shave the fur or hair of your pet for the infrared light to penetrate the skin. Remember, there will be no health benefit gained from the therapy if the light does not get through the surface.

Infrared light therapy dosage

Ensure you know the recommended dosage before you use any infrared light therapy device at home. Mostly this will be indicated in the device manual. The strength of the light intensity will determine the period you will use the device to achieve a certain dosage. The higher the dosage, the more effective it will be since it will penetrate deeper.

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It's not a secret: what is considered to be weird or unorthodox in some cultures can be widely acceptable and normal in others. Knowing Western and Eastern points of view on many subjects from the original sources gives us a unique perspective.

We create original content based on our own experiences, translate interesting articles and chapters from rare books and magazines and sometimes bring contrarian opinions on popular subjects if there is sufficient evidence of positive outcome.